Lawsuit: Oregon Patients Didn't Consent to HIV Testing

A recent article in The Columbian reported that two Oregon residents sued healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente for screening them for HIV without their permission. They also are asking a judge to expand the action as a class action lawsuit to include the estimated 6,500 individuals whom they allege Kaiser Permanente tested for HIV without their knowledge. Oregon law requires that patients be informed that they are about to be tested for the virus and be given the option to decline testing. The complainants allege that Kaiser tested Oregon and Washington patients ages 50 to 65 from April 11 to May 5 without informing them that they were being screened. Kaiser said that it regrets the miscommunication. The lawsuit claims invasion of privacy, unlawful trade practices, and fraud.

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